“You have not arrived…bottom line.” That’s a constant thought in my life the more familiar I become with serving the Lord, the more I read the Bible, the more consistent I love my wife and girls, the more I serve the community of people I’m around…”You have not arrived Tommy; you’re not there.” AND I realize that I won’t FULLY get there on this earth. That’s a helpful thought for me as well.
The reason I’m reminded of this is because I went to a worship event a few weeks ago with some friends, one of them who is very much gifted and interested in becoming a worship pastor of some sort in the future. As we arrived and sat down, I looked over and saw my buddy pull out his I-Pad. “Why would you bring an I-Pad to a worship service bro?” And I love what he said. “I want to take notes on how they lead people into worship.” Not to mimic them, not to “create” something, not to idolize a way of leading, but to be a student of others in discovering the best ways to lead people into worshiping God. I love that!!
My buddy understands that he’s not going to grow closer to the Lord without fully admitting every single day, “I have not arrived – I’m simply a student and disciple of His!”
I don’t have anything figured out, and the more I understand, the more I realize that statement is true – I honestly don’t know what I’m doing…and I’m okay with it.
Let me give you a proper perspective on your heart today: If you think you’ve got it down, if you think your relationship with God is “old hat,” if you woke up this morning feeling like you have arrived as a leader, the best thought I could possibly give you is this: “There is no one righteous…not…even…ONE.” (Romans 3:10) You HAVEN’T arrived. You don’t deserve the opportunities you get. The only way you’ve gotten this far in your wisdom and abilities is on the strong back of the Lord and that’s the most humbling, beautiful, transparent truth some of us could embrace today.
Be a student of the Lord AND of people. Take notes…ALWAYS. Ask questions…ALWAYS. Instead of thinking you always have the answers, realize that you actually need to be the one always asking the questions. Be teachable, be a learner, embrace humility and tell Satan to bury his temptations of pride with his own fate.
You’re a mighty, powerful child of the King – but maintain a right perspective that you were ADOPTED into this great Kingdom. And the King who provides for you, who welcomes you, who commissions you is NEVER more satisfied with you than when you look to Him for all the answers.
Develop a right perspective today – one of humility and teachability. There is no better way to live.
